Oregon Public Broadcasting

The $700 billion financial package that passed the Senate Wednesday faces a much tougher road in the House, where an earlier measure already failed. This time, supporters have added a bunch of unrelated proposals to help sweeten the pot, as Ethan Lindsey reports.

In an effort to win over the undecided, senators added over $100 billion in so-called ‘sweeteners.’

Attached to the new bailout package is a tax benefit for bicycle commuters, something Democrat Earl Blumenauer has pushed for years.

Still, Blumenauer says he is leaning towards voting ‘no’ on the package because it doesn’t benefit individual homeowners enough.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer: “It is vexing. But its hard to vote for something that misses the essence of what the American taxpayer needs. And frankly, far more Oregonians are at risk if we don’t get the other pieces right.”

The financial rescue bill would also boost mental health insurance coverage, backed by Republican Gordon Smith, who voted for the Senate bill.

It also contains $2 billion to help timber-dependent counties.  Democrats Ron Wyden and Peter Defazio are both big boosters of county payments, but oppose the bailout.